Combined undertaker&#39;s slumber bed, cooling board, and casket support



1,624,950 April 19, 1927. M. c. HOARD COMBINED UNDERTAKERS SLUMBER BED, COOLING BOARD, AND CASKET SUPPORT Filed July 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmnntov Milo C floapd Apnl 19,1927. M. c HOARD COMBINED UNDERTAKERS SLUMBER BED, COOLING BOARD, AND CASKET SUPPORT Filed July 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 5 gwm nkcm M51110 C. Road Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- MILO C. HOARD, OF STRYKER, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WENDELL P. GRISIER, OF STRYKER,

' OHIO.

COMBINED UNDERTAKERS SLUMBER BED, COOLING BOARD, AND CASKET SUPPORT.

Application filed July 15, 1925.

My invention has for its object to provide a combined undertakers slumber bed, cooling board and casket support, that may be used in the preparation and care of bodies. The invention afi'ords an exceedingly simple instrumentality that may be easily folded and conveniently carried or transported to the place where the body reposes and may be successively used to perform the several functions required, it being so constructed that it may be readily converted for one utility to the other without interference of any part of its structure for one purpose while it is being used for either of the other purposes.

The invention may be contained in structures which in their details may vary. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a structure containing the invention as an example of such structures and shall describe it hereinafter. The structure selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates the structure or undertakers instrument arranged for use as a cooling board. Fig. 2 illustrates the structure when used as a slumber bed and Fig. 3 illustrates the structure when used as a cofiin support. Fig. 4 illustrates the structure when folded. Fig. 5 illustrates the structure partially open. Fig. 6 illustrates a View of a section taken on the plane of the line 66 indicated in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view showing an end portion of the structure. Fig. 8 illustrates a view of a side bar and particularly one of the notches for locking the end boards in an open position.

The structure shown in the drawings has a bed portion 1 that is preferably jointedin order that the structure may be encompassed in a small volume for convenience of carrying or transporting it from place to place. In the form shown the bed 1 is formed of two sections 2 that are hingedly connected together by the hinges 3. Each section has comparatively wide side strips 4 to which are connected boards 5 and 6 of any suitable comparatively thin material. The boards 5 and 6 are secured to the top and bottom edges of the strips 4 and thus form a chamber for receiving the end board, such as the head-board 7 or the foot-board 8.

The end-boards have uprights 9, the cross Serial No. 43,669.

bars 10 and the panels 11. The uprights 9 also form the legs 12 and the short projecting posts 13. The end-boards fit between the side strips 4 and so that they may be slid into the chambers formed by the parts of the bed. The strips 4 extend sli htly beyond the upper board 5 of each section of the bed to permit the end-boards to extend vertically, while. the strips 4 extend across the uprights 9. The board 6 moreover extends from a point sufliciently remote from the ends of the strips to permit the end boards to be swung into alinement with the chambers of the sections of the bed.

In order that the end boards may be pivotally and slidably connected to the body portion of the bed, they are provided with pins 14. that extend into slots 15 formed in the strips 4 and which terminate near the outer ends of the strips 4 so as to permit the end-boards to swing into a vertical position. In order to secure the end-boards in their upright positions, rods 16 extend between the strips 4, their ends being located in the slots 15. They are connected to the uprights 9 by means of the links 17 Notches 18, that extend from the slots 15, are also formed in the strips. When therefore, the end-boards are swung into vertical positions the rods 16 may be drawn along the slots 15 until they enter the notches 18. The links 17 will thus brace the end-boards to securely hold them in position relative to the bed. \Vhen it is desired to fold the bed, the rods are raised from the notches and pushed along the slots and at the same time the endboards are swung into the plane of the sections, about the pins 14 and then the end boards are pushed into the chambers of the sections, the pins and the rods sliding along the slots. In order that the legs of the endboards may clear the rods the links are made relative long and the slots extend to near the hinges 3. The sections may then be folded and suitable snaps 19 may be used to secure them together while the structure is being transported. A handle 20 is also secured to one of the sections for carrying the combination structure.

\Vhen the structure is used for a cooling board the head of the body may be raised by raising a part 21 of the top board 5 that may be hingedly connected by the hinges 27 to the section of which it forms a part and secured in this raised position by means of the rod 22, which is also hingedly secured in position by the bracket 28.

If desired a mattress 23 may be placed on. the bed and the bed dressed to give it the appearance or a sleeping couch or slumber bed.

Also the short posts 13 form a means for maintaining a casket 24 on the end-boards, the length of the coflin ordinarily being slightly longer than the bed. When the structure is used as a casket support the structure is draped and covered with a cloth and banked with flowers to enclose the sides and ends.

I claim:

1. In a cooling board, a pair of end boards for supporting the bed from the floor, a pair of side strips and a bed bottom interconnecting the upper edges of the strips, the strips having; slots running longitudinally thereof, pins connected to the end boards and movable in the slots, a rod extending between the strips, the ends of the rod located in the slots, links connecting the rod to the end boards, the rods guided by the slots as the end boards are placed upright and when closed, and means for securing the end boards in their upright positions.

2. In a cooling board, a pair of end boards for supporting the bed from the floor, a pair of side strips and a bed bottom interconnecting the upper edges of the strips, the strips having slots running longitudinally thereof, pins connected to the end boards and movable in the slots, a rod extending between the strips, the ends of the rod located in the slots, links connecting the rod to the end boards, the rods guided by the slots as the end boards are placed upright and when closed, means for securing the end boards in their upright positions, the side strips divided into two parts hingedly connected together whereby the end boards, the links and the rod may be enclosed within the bed bottom and the strips.

3. In a combined cooling board, undertakers slumber bed and casket support, a pair of end boards, a pair of side strips and a pair of boards interconnecting the upper and lower edges of the strips and forming an enclosure between the last named boards and the strips, the side strips having slots, pins connected to the end boards and movable in the slots when the end boards are rotated on the pins and slid into the enclosure between the strips and the second named boards, a rod extending between the strips, the ends of the rod located in the slots, braces connected to the rod and to the lower ends of the end boards, the rod movable in the slots in advance of the pins when the end boards are inserted in the enclosure between the second named boards and the strips.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

MILO C. HOARD. 

